Biography

Timothy L. Ratliff, PhD

Timothy Ratliff, the Robert Wallace Miller director of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, an NCI-designated basic science cancer center and Distinguished Professor of Comparative Pathobiology in the School of Veterinary Medicine, is nationally recognized for his achievements in urologic research. Dr. Ratliff was a member of the team that validated the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test that is widely used to detect prostate cancer and was a leader in the launch of intravesical BCG therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, currently the treatment of choice for the disease. Dr. Ratliff founded and launched the Society for Basic Urologic Research and is a member of several other scientific societies.

Before coming to Purdue, Dr. Ratliff was the Andersen-Hebbeln Professor of Prostate Cancer Research at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine where he served as research vice chair for the Department of Urology and program leader for the Immunology and Immunotherapy Scientific Program for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to joining the faculty of University of Iowa, he was a faculty member of Washington University School of Medicine.

His research focuses on immunology and inflammation using prostate and bladder cancer models to address questions regarding activation of antitumor responses, characterization of antitumor effector mechanisms, impact of inflammation on cancer development, and the regulation of antitumor immunity.

Ratliff received his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Texas, Arlington. He received his master's degree in biology at Texas A&M, Commerce, and his doctorate in microbiology at the University of Arkansas. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University School of Medicine, where he later obtained his first faculty position.